Gig Harbor Arts Commission to host special presentation on April 9th

Guest Speaker Peter Altmann shares family story of “The Woman in Gold”

Gig Harbor, Wash., March 26th, 2015 – The public is invited to attend an informative, entertaining and free presentation by special guest Peter Altmann of Tacoma as he discusses his family ties to the painting “The Woman in Gold”, on April 9th at 5:30pm at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview Street, in Gig Harbor. This special event is sponsored by the Gig Harbor Arts Commission and the Peninsula Art League.

Peter Altmann is the great nephew of Adele Bloch-Bauer, who was immortalized in a painting by the world-renowned artist Gustav Klimt. Mr. Altman will talk about how his mother, Maria Altmann, fought successfully to re-possess several paintings that were stolen from her family by the Nazis in WWII. One of the paintings, “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer 1” (“The Woman in Gold”) was a portrait of Maria’s aunt, Adele Bloch-Bauer, and is considered to be to be one of the most valuable and famous paintings in the world. When Maria Altmann was 82 years old, she began the legal challenge to win back what was rightfully her family’s and sued the Austrian government. The legal battle lasted almost eight years. The painting, considered by some to be the Austrian Mona Lisa, was eventually returned to Maria Altmann and has since been sold for $135 million dollars and is on permanent display at a New York art museum as Maria wanted it to be available for public viewing. Peter Altmann will recount the amazing journey this beautiful artwork has taken.

Maria Altmann’s story has been made into a motion picture, which debuts on Apr. 3 at the Grand Theater in Tacoma, 606 S Fawcett Ave, and stars actress Helen Mirren.

More information about the April 9th presentation as well as other events and activities can be found on the city’s visitor website at www.gigharborguide.com.